Liverpool City Region, home to more than 1,400 music businesses, was highlighted as a leading example of what targeted investment can achieve. Photo: Shutterstock.
During a visit to Liverpool on 20 January 2026, Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray confirmed that regions nationwide are now invited to bid for part of a newly released £27 million funding package, designed to support innovation, skills development and job creation in the sector.
Emphasising that the next funding round will support areas seeking to replicate Liverpool’s success, he said:
“We’ve seen the transformative impact that government investment has had on Liverpool City Region’s music industry, helping innovative projects like MusicFutures flourish. In our Industrial Strategy, we committed to driving growth and building on the regional clusters of creativity that exist across the UK.”
Building on Liverpool’s success
The government’s announcement forms part of a much larger record-breaking £500 million settlement for research, development and innovation across the creative industries.
Liverpool City Region, home to more than 1,400 music businesses and the UK’s highest number of chart-topping records was highlighted as a leading example of what targeted investment can achieve. The area was awarded nearly £7 million in 2024 as the country’s foremost music innovation and technology cluster, demonstrating how coordinated funding can nurture new talent, strengthen cultural identity and expand economic opportunity.
The MU recognises that these regional investment plans go hand in hand with the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, which outlines a commitment to growing local creative economies and building resilient, future-focused industry clusters.
Regional investment with real impact for music
Paul Reed, MU North of England Regional Organiser, says: “We warmly welcome this investment, which has the potential to have a real impact on our members across the North of England and further afield. We’ve already seen in Liverpool that coordinated investment can energise music ecosystems, and the City Region Music Board is testament to what can be achieved when industry, policy makers and musicians work together.
“As bids are developed, it’s essential that working musicians are at the centre of the conversation to ensure this funding delivers meaningful change.”
Working musicians must be engaged meaningfully
As regions prepare to develop bids, the MU encourages local authorities and cultural organisations to engage meaningfully with working musicians to ensure that investment reflects the real needs of the sector.
In addition to these developments, the MU also welcomes the Government’s newly announced 5% funding uplift for Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations, delivered as part of a wider £1.5 billion package to protect more than 1,000 arts and cultural venues across England.